Men's basketball: CU Buffs break into AP's Top 25 for first time since 1997

Colorado enters poll at No. 23

By Ryan Thorburn, Buffzone.com

Posted:
11/19/2012 12:58:48 PM MST

Colorado's Andre Roberson, top, drives to the basket past Murray State during an NCAA college basketball game at the Charleston Classic at the TD Arena, Sunday Nov. 18, 2012, in Charleston, S.C. Colorado won 81-74.
(
Alice Keeney
)

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Upset victims.

Those two words will describe the Colorado basketball program the next time it loses a game.

The Buffs (4-0) flew home with Charleston Classic championship trophy on Monday after defeating Dayton, Baylor and Murray State.

By the time Tad Boyle's team landed, CU was ranked No. 23 in this week's Associated Press poll.

It's the first time the Buffs have been ranked by AP since 1997 when Chauncey Billups was running the show.

CU last appeared in the polls for two weeks in February 2006 (No. 25 in the USA Coaches, which tabbed the Buffs 27th this week).

This is the first time the program has been ranked during non-conference play since Dec.

Now the head coach, who used preseason snubs in the Big 12 and Pac-12 media polls as motivation for his first two CU squads, will have to get the Buffs ready for every opponent's best shot.

"I do know that as we continue to have success that we're going to become the hunted rather than the hunter," Boyle said after CU's 81-74 victory over Murray State in the championship game on Sunday night at TD Arena. "We have to be able to handle that."

The young Buffs have handled the great expectations created by last season's Pac-12 Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance perfectly so far.

Askia Booker averaged 19.3 points, including a career-high 23 in the title game against the Racers' dynamic backcourt, to earn tournament most valuable player honors. He was also named the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday.

"Overall, it's just confidence," Booker said. "That's the big thing in anyone's game. I believe it's going to go in when I shoot it."

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